Even yogic postures and sequences that don’t bring your heart rate into the aerobic range can improve your cardiovascular conditioning. Studies have found that yoga practice lowers the resting heart rate and increases the maximum uptake of oxygen as well as endurance during exercise, all indications of improved aerobic conditioning. In people with heart disease, a comprehensive lifestyle program that included yoga asana resulted in an improvement in the heart’s pumping ability. One study found that subjects who practiced just pranayama (breathwork) could work harder with reduced oxygen consumption. (source: Timothy McCall, M.D.)
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